Chocolate + Chaoshttp://chocolateandchaos.com
Mon, 25 Sep 2017 11:33:18 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.2http://chocolateandchaos.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cropped-iconmonstr-drop-9-240-1-32x32.pngChocolate + Chaoshttp://chocolateandchaos.com
3232First Time Mom… And I Don’t Have A Clue What I’m Doing!http://chocolateandchaos.com/first-time-mom-and-i-dont-have-a-clue-what-im-doing/
http://chocolateandchaos.com/first-time-mom-and-i-dont-have-a-clue-what-im-doing/#commentsMon, 25 Sep 2017 11:33:18 +0000http://chocolateandchaos.com/?p=2265Being a first-time mom is hard, but you will get through it just like I did. We’ve been wanting a baby for a while but doctors told me that conceiving would be difficult. To our surprise, we found out I was pregnant late last year and today we have a beautiful, healthy, one and a […]]]>

Being a first-time mom is hard, but you will get through it just like I did.

We’ve been wanting a baby for a while but doctors told me that conceiving would be difficult. To our surprise, we found out I was pregnant late last year and today we have a beautiful, healthy, one and a half-month-old little girl…and I’ve never felt so lost in my life!

When you’re thinking about having a baby, or when you’re pregnant, you tend to concentrate on the “cute” things: the Baby Shower, the nursery’s “motif”, the clothes you’re going to buy for the little one, the “leaving the hospital” outfit, car seat, bassinet, play yard, among other baby stuff. What you DON’T think about when you’re a first-time mom is that you’ll probably put the diaper on backwards at least once. Yep, did that.

You don’t think about the frustration you feel when your new bundle of joy can’t seem to latch on properly to your breast to feed or that maybe you’ll need to supplement with formula so she doesn’t go hungry. Been there. Cried a river at the hospital when my baby’s nurse told me she hadn’t pooped and it was because I wasn’t producing enough milk, asked me to sign a release allowing them to give my little girl formula. I did. And I felt like a failure already on my second day as a mommy. Even more so when baby finished her bottle in less than five minutes.

Then you get to go home…and the real “terror” begins. You’re afraid to drop her or hurt her. You sit or stand by the crib while she’s sleeping to make sure she’s breathing. You poke her if for a minute you think she’s not, or is it just me?

You give her a bath and feel relief afterward. Why? Because those sweet-smelling bath products make for a very slippery baby! I made the mistake of asking for a sling instead of a tub and the thing didn’t fit in my sink…bathing baby became a two-person task and my husband and I always came out of the shower soaking wet but with a clean offspring. Oh, yeah, we now have a tub.

Getting her dressed was also stressful. I was scared a wrong move would have me accidentally pressing on the soft part of her scalp. Took me a long time to put on her onesie, and I sometimes dressed her in onesies she was still too small for to minimize the risk.

And then comes the crying!! Takes a while to figure out WHY she’s crying. She’s fed, her diaper’s clean, what’s wrong? The fact that sometimes I couldn’t calm her down, but daddy could make me feel inadequate. I can’t calm down my own baby? Fail. You get stressed, frustrated, emotional, and, frankly, sometimes you just need a few minutes alone to get yourself together.

But, there’s something we all need to understand: there’s no such thing as a Super Mom and we WILL feel lost a lot of the time. The good news? We’ll get it. My baby has started smiling at me, cooing and looking at me as if I’m her favorite person in the whole world…must be doing something right.

I know that you’re currently cussing at me under your breath and you’re already thinking that this is click bait. Well, of course, I want you to click, but I promise you, there is nothing click bait about it. I want you to look at yourself. Dig deep. And think about the last time you took a guilt-free break, even just for a few hours or took a shower without rushing just in case. Or maybe it’s even having a few sips of coffee in peace and quiet while it’s still warm.

Sound familiar?

Now it’s time for me to tell you the hard truth. Get out of your own damn way.

I say that knowing full well what it’s like. I was there. I was you. For two long years, I took 3-minute showers, I spent endless days in the house with my children. Hell, by the time I applied makeup to my face after having my first child I’m pretty sure it was out of date. I had mom guilt, bad. I couldn’t breathe without thinking of my kids. I couldn’t buy anything for myself or do anything for myself because I felt it was taking away from them.

There was that fog. That fog that set its nasty claws on me the moment my daughter was born and wouldn’t let go. Until it did and I could finally see. I was miserable. I was the worst part of me. I was making every relationship I had difficult because I couldn’t see past the guilt. My husband and I were a shadow of what we once were. My children were seeing me at my wits end. I would go off for no reason, I would burst out in tears because the toilet paper roll wasn’t put on the right way, or wasn’t put on at all. I would lose it, just lose it because I had lost it.

I had lost me.

I wasn’t a person anymore. I was a mom. That’s all I was. I couldn’t see past it, I couldn’t get past it for a long time.

Then one day I was scrolling through pictures and I came across a few selfies I had taken of myself when my daughter was first born.

I had my ah-ha moment. I remember looking at those pictures and thinking “who is that?” “Is that really me?” “Where did that girl go?”

I looked at those pictures and saw a beautiful woman. I looked in the mirror now and I saw a shadow of my former self. I hadn’t showered in days, my hair was in a bun and I wasn’t sure if I took out the holder if it would even move. I was wearing a tee and sweats. I was disgusting. I had gotten in my own damn way for long enough.

So I put the kids down for a nap, I got in the shower, I cut my hair and blow dried it. I couldn’t remember the last time I had actually used my blow dryer. I put on makeup and I put on jeans.

I sat down and I felt like a person again. It had only taken about 30 minutes, but it was all I needed to feel like a real person again.

So I urge you mama, take 30 minutes and give yourself some time to be the old you again. It is not only invigorating and gives you a new outlook on things, but you seriously deserve it.

]]>http://chocolateandchaos.com/hey-mom-get-out-of-your-own-damn-way/feed/0Confessions of a Nerdy Momhttp://chocolateandchaos.com/confessions-of-a-nerdy-mom/
http://chocolateandchaos.com/confessions-of-a-nerdy-mom/#respondMon, 18 Sep 2017 01:32:14 +0000http://chocolateandchaos.com/?p=5573I’ve had this blog for a few years now, I’ve also had a number of other blogs during the same time. What I’ve always struggled with is joining my passions. I LOVE being a mom. I think it’s one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever been given. I am deep down a nerd. Because I […]]]>

I’ve had this blog for a few years now, I’ve also had a number of other blogs during the same time. What I’ve always struggled with is joining my passions. I LOVE being a mom. I think it’s one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever been given. I am deep down a nerd. Because I also love blogging and content marketing. Like I spend my free time reading about it while others I know are shopping for their kiddos or looking up recipes for the next block party. So my dilemma, how to do what I love and write about it?

And then I had an ah-ha moment.

Why not combine them? I mean seriously, why not?

I’ve seen other bloggers do it, those with their income reports and their Pinterest how-tos. Why didn’t I do it sooner? Why didn’t I think of it sooner?

Because I was more concerned about my audience than myself. I was concerned for you, the reader. You might be a mom, but you might not necessarily be a blogger or interested in content marketing or you might just use Pinterest (gasp) just because you like stuff.

Because of all my worries, I backed away from Chocolate + Chaos completely and that didn’t do anyone any good.

So here’s the deal. From now on you’ll see a mix of parenting posts as well as stuff about blogging. Oh yeah, and some awesome threads for little ones in our new online store.

If you don’t like the stuff about blogging, just skip it! They’ll be an awesome article you’ll love not too far behind it.

So that’s it for now. We’ll see you soon :).

]]>http://chocolateandchaos.com/confessions-of-a-nerdy-mom/feed/0My New Favorite Snack For Me Time: Yoplait Mix-Inshttp://chocolateandchaos.com/my-new-favorite-snack-for-me-time-yoplait-mix-ins/
http://chocolateandchaos.com/my-new-favorite-snack-for-me-time-yoplait-mix-ins/#respondSat, 19 Aug 2017 02:50:09 +0000http://chocolateandchaos.com/?p=5458Don’t get me wrong, I love my children more than words can say, but I relish those moments of peace like any mom does. Now, instead of grabbing a candy bar to eat in those few, glorious moments, I’m grabbing Yoplait Mix-Ins.]]>

This is a sponsored post which means I am being compensated by product or otherwise. However the opinions of my review are my own.
You already know that I’m a mom of two little ones. While they might not be two under two anymore, that doesn’t mean that they don’t keep me on my toes. Not only that, but they make it very difficult to have a moment of peace, let alone enjoy a meal or a snack to myself.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my children more than words can say, but I relish those moments of peace like any mom does. Now, instead of grabbing a candy bar to eat in those few, glorious moments, I’m grabbing Yoplait Mix-Ins.

They are seriously delicious and I don’t have to feel guilty that I just chowed down on hundreds of calories worth of chocolate. Instead I feel great about my choices.

Confession: My youngest turned one in June and I’m STILL eating like I’m pregnant. I really need to cut that out. Yoplait Mix-Ins are definitely helping with that.
My two favorite flavors are Very Berry Crisp and Mint Chocolate Delight. Because, ya know, sometimes I still need my chocolate fix, and the berry is just what a hot summer day called for.
The extra little crunch of the granola mixed in to the Very Berry Crisp tasted great and I like to think made me feel like it was even more of a treat. But talk about treats, the Mint Chocolate Delight flavor… I swear it was cookie pieces I was mixing in.
Hands down the best decision I’ve made in a while, to switch my daily candy bar fix with a Yoplait Mix-In. My only hope is that the kids don’t discover them. Otherwise I’ll be fighting for them, or having to run to the store to buy more!
If you haven’t yet – you should totally try them. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Yoplait-Mix-Ins-Traditional-Style-Yogurt-Very-Berry-Crisp-5-3-OZ/328622943

I dream big, folks.

I’m dreaming about a day in which I have zero responsibilities. Zero worries. Zero cares.
Dreaming of a day when the house doesn’t fall apart if I choose to leave for one day. Everyone’s meals are made by someone else. Someone comes in and makes sure the dishes are done.

Mom’s Day Off.

This isn’t like Mother’s Day where you’re still mom. This is a day where you’re you and you can do the things you enjoy.
Between blogging, work, working out, parenting, the home and being a wife, I barely get 30 seconds to myself beyond taking a shower.

This needs to change.

Here are five things I’d do with just one day off:

1. See a movie.They still have those, right? I’d get a large buttery popcorn (extra butter if we’re being honest), get a seat in the back row, and sit through an entire movie without my husband, my son, or my phone pestering me to respond.

2. Hit the spa.
I need a massage, guys. I don’t remember the last time I had one, but I need a massage desperately. Even if I end up just falling asleep on the table, this is high on my Mom’s Day Off list. My nails also need help.

3. Go to Target.
Ah, the mother land. A mother’s Mecca. Not having to wrangle a toddler to stay seated or having my husband show me whatever electronic item we suddenly need sounds like a dream. I’d stop at the Starbucks inside, sit my coffee right in the top of the cart, and just stroll the aisles. By myself. With a regular purse, not that big clunky diaper bag.

4. Read.
I miss reading without a time limit. I’ve started reading on my commute again, but when I really get into a chapter, I have to put the book away to go work. I’d love to sit and read until my heart and mind were full.

5. Meditate.
I need to clear my head. I need quiet time. I need to focus. Meditating can help with all of this. I should really incorporate it more often, but with so much going on it’s hard to find the time to be with my own thoughts for some time. And I don’t even know if I want to be with my own thoughts right now. But after a day to myself I would.

I’d make sure I’d have enough time at the end of the day to go home and play with my son. While a day off is great, my son’s smile and giggle is even better.

]]>http://chocolateandchaos.com/five-things-id-do-with-a-moms-day-off/feed/0Facing the Darknesshttp://chocolateandchaos.com/facing-the-darkness/
http://chocolateandchaos.com/facing-the-darkness/#respondMon, 28 Nov 2016 10:48:21 +0000http://chocolateandchaos.com/?p=5419Within the first few months of being a new mother I knew something was wrong. I wasn’t feeling like me. It was more than just feeling sad. It was more than being exhausted. Something was off, and I couldn’t put my finger on what exactly it was. I suspected it was PPD, but being the […]]]>

Within the first few months of being a new mother I knew something was wrong. I wasn’t feeling like me. It was more than just feeling sad. It was more than being exhausted. Something was off, and I couldn’t put my finger on what exactly it was. I suspected it was PPD, but being the way I am I tried to shrug off the notion. That happens to other people, not me.

Growing up I was the annoyingly happy person, and I knew it. My goal was to spread sunshine and daisies, bringing smiles and hope to everyone around me. So when this major shift happened I was scared. I felt alone. No matter how much I tried to shrug it off, it was still there. It was a shadow that wouldn’t go away.

I was ecstatic to be a mother, and my love for my daughter was larger than life itself. Life was oh so good. So why couldn’t I shake this feeling?

Among other symptoms, the crying fits happened increasingly. It wasn’t until I finally looked my husband in the eye with tears streaming down my face and saw his worry that I knew I couldn’t shrug this off anymore.

“I think I have PPD.”

I had no idea what an impact so few words could have. Acknowledging the darkness for what it was like cutting a hole in the fabric blocking the sun. It didn’t take the shadow away, but suddenly there was light. Hope. It was that pivotal moment that made all the difference.

One of my favorite children’s books is “You Are Special” by Max Lucado. In this world we so often go around placing stars and dots on each other. At one point I was afraid that admitting I was struggling with PPD would stick a big fat gray dot on me. It took me until just a few weeks ago to learn that, as simple as it seems, I am not postpartum depression. The dot that I thought postpartum depression has made of me is actually non-existent.

Though I am experiencing PPD, it is not who I am. You and I? We have potential to do all things, and that makes us special. Despite our difficulties, we have worth. That worth doesn’t go anywhere. And to me, that is wonderful.

There are still days that are darker than others, but that sliver of light keeps me going. That sliver of light reminds me that I can be happy. It reminds me that I am a good mother. It reminds me that I am not postpartum depression. That little sliver of light that came from those few words of acknowledgement made the world of difference for me. And knowing that makes me sure it can do the same for you.

]]>http://chocolateandchaos.com/facing-the-darkness/feed/0Thanksgiving Gratitude Turkeyhttp://chocolateandchaos.com/thanksgiving-gratitude-turkey/
http://chocolateandchaos.com/thanksgiving-gratitude-turkey/#respondMon, 21 Nov 2016 10:55:20 +0000http://chocolateandchaos.com/?p=5401My mom had this fun Thanksgiving tradition she did with my siblings and I when we were growing up called “The Gratitude Turkey”. Every year she would cut out a large turkey from butcher paper and hang it on our kitchen wall. She would then cut out an exorbitant amount of “turkey feathers” from construction […]]]>

My mom had this fun Thanksgiving tradition she did with my siblings and I when we were growing up called “The Gratitude Turkey”. Every year she would cut out a large turkey from butcher paper and hang it on our kitchen wall. She would then cut out an exorbitant amount of “turkey feathers” from construction paper. Beginning the first day of November, my mom would have all of us kids take at least one feather every morning and write down something we were thankful for. When we were young, our feathers would often times hold generic, duplicate statements, such as “I am grateful for friends”, but as we got older our statements of gratitude became more profound and personalized.

Growing up I did not appreciate the meaning of what our Thanksgiving turkey represented. Oh, it certainly was fun to see how the turkey’s feathery foliage grew day by day over the weeks. By Thanksgiving morning the turkey’s feathers would, often times, cover the majority of the kitchen wall. And it was always a treat to see what the other siblings would write on their daily feather. But the beautiful significance of what we were celebrating was lost on me until I grew older.

Our Gratitude Turkey was a beautiful reminder to be thankful for the blessings in our life, whether big or small. As a child it seemed that only the “important”, significant, or obvious things in life were worth remembering. But now that I am an adult, I have come to realize that sometimes the simplest, most insignificant things in life – those that I tend to take for granted – are the things I am most grateful for. And as a mother, this tradition of daily counting our blessings is something I want to pass down to my children.

Last year was the first year I did the Gratitude Turkey with my kids. The concept was more fun and entertaining than anything else since both kids were still so young. Now that my kids are one year older, however, I am hoping that they will begin to grasp the deeper significance of what it means to be thankful, what gratitude looks like, and why it is so important to practice a life of appreciation.

Begin by cutting a large butternut squash-shape from the butcher paper, which will be used for the turkey’s body. Cut legs and beak from either the yellow or orange construction paper, depending on your preference, and glue onto the turkey. You will also need to cut out a turkey snood (the red fleshy bit that hangs off the beak) from the red construction paper and add to one side of your turkey’s beak. Add the adhesive wiggly eyes before taping your turkey onto a wall.

From the remaining construction paper, you will need to cut “feathers”. Cut out as little or as many as you would like. The more feathers you cut out, the bigger your turkey foliage will end up being. Extra feathers will also allow wiggle room for multiple gratitude feathers per day or if a redo feather needs to be done. Beginning the first day of November, use a pen or maker to write down what you are thankful for. Finish off by taping the feathers behind the turkey.

I hope the Gratitude Turkey is a fun yet memorable tradition that your family is able to incorporate into the festive holiday season. My family is continually blessed with the reminder of how truly fortunate we are and hope that your family is able to walk away with a similar sense of contentment and joy.

Anna Engel is a stay-at-home mom to two beautiful children and has recently embarked upon the journey of homeschooling. Anna is also Co-Founder of Bundles & Co., an online consignment store which allows parents to buy and sell new or pre-owned children’s clothes from the convenience of home. In her free time, Anna enjoys exercising, crafting, and reading.

]]>http://chocolateandchaos.com/thanksgiving-gratitude-turkey/feed/0Being A Mom Is Powerfulhttp://chocolateandchaos.com/being-a-mom-is-powerful/
http://chocolateandchaos.com/being-a-mom-is-powerful/#respondWed, 26 Oct 2016 11:44:23 +0000http://chocolateandchaos.com/?p=5395Every day I look into my sweet daughter’s face. I can’t help but think this is the face of someone who has given my husband and I more poop adventures than we thought we would ever encounter. It is the face of the little girl who spit up in my mouth (much to my horror). It is the face of the […]]]>

Every day I look into my sweet daughter’s face. I can’t help but think this is the face of someone who has given my husband and I more poop adventures than we thought we would ever encounter. It is the face of the little girl who spit up in my mouth (much to my horror). It is the face of the little girl who has pushed me to the limit. It is the face of the little girl who thinks screaming is funny. It is the face of the girl that I love more than I can possibly describe.

Yeah, being a mom is hard. But the love more than compensates.

The moment they placed my dear little premie on my chest my heart almost burst. The love was immediate and beautiful. All of my heart was stolen by this little babe sleeping in my arms. Motherhood is all about this love.

That love makes being a mom worth it.

In the bible, it says “Charity suffereth long … beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, and endureth all things.” If that isn’t describing the life of a mother, I don’t know what is.

As mothers we bear, believe, hope, and endure. We have to. If we didn’t, neither our kids nor ourselves would make it through a week. The peaks and valleys of motherhood often send my head spinning. But I think the dizziness is what turns this life into a blurry beauty.

As mothers, we suffer through sleepless nights and busy days. We are always on call, never off duty. We suffer through worrying for our children. We suffer the pain our children feel.

As mothers, we bear our children. We carry them into this world and through this world. We bear their burdens and help them learn how to navigate this life.

As mothers, we believe in our children. We see their potential. We believe they will make it, and we believe we can too. We believe that we are the luckiest mommas alive.

As mothers, we hope the best for our children. We pray for a better world. We hope they see their own potential and that they go for it. We hope they know we love them, and that we would do anything and everything for them.

And as mothers, we endure. We travel the longest road with the most beautiful view. We endure the good times and the hard times. We endure life knowing how lucky we are.

I’ve learned that being a mom is a powerful thing. That power comes from the love that is instilled within us. Sure we go through some crazy things. Nasty things. Hard things. But if we had to, we could move mountains. And I say knowing that makes it all more than worth it.

]]>http://chocolateandchaos.com/being-a-mom-is-powerful/feed/0It’s Almost Never The Things You Planhttp://chocolateandchaos.com/almost-never-things-plan/
http://chocolateandchaos.com/almost-never-things-plan/#respondMon, 24 Oct 2016 11:08:52 +0000http://chocolateandchaos.com/?p=5390As I’m working on this piece, I’m fighting the urge to toggle through web pages to plan the perfect fall season events for my family. Should we attempt the Family Series Symphony or the Children’s Theatre performance of Charlie Brown Christmas? Which pumpkin patches offer the most bang for the buck? How will I make […]]]>

As I’m working on this piece, I’m fighting the urge to toggle through web pages to plan the perfect fall season events for my family. Should we attempt the Family Series Symphony or the Children’s Theatre performance of Charlie Brown Christmas? Which pumpkin patches offer the most bang for the buck? How will I make sure we spend every second of fall, my family’s favorite season, enjoying enriching experiences while eating healthy baked goods and feeling warm and fulfilled?

Spoiler alert: I won’t.

I’ll try. Some people meditate in complete stillness, their minds void of words or plans. I meditate with my Erin Condren planner, pen ready to orchestrate days filled with laughter and exceeded expectations. It’s a dangerous practice, one that makes me feel securely in the driver’s seat. I’m also pretty sure it’s not really meditation but more of a mania that other mothers participate in on our way to achieving the goal of planning the perfect day.

The problem is moms have kids. That in itself is not the problem, but different personalities and moods blended together under one roof means taking the crazy on the road in search of perfection is usually a fool’s errand. And I am apparently a practiced fool.

Here’s what I know, despite my tendency to forget: it’s almost never the days you plan that end up being the golden memories of tomorrow. When everyone in the family carries the weight of trying to create a big, memorable event, it’s inevitable that at least one person, possibly all of them, are going to break.

Plus, there are always accidents and uncontrollable forces. That perfect day we were going to spend at an outdoor splash pad followed by museums ended up being the day my daughter received 11 stitches after busting her chin the first 30 minutes at the splash pad. That day we were going to have a picnic in the park and laze under the trees reading stories ended up being a day full of tears when the park was closed for construction after we had already driven there.

This is the essence of life, and it’s good for kids to understand that plans are ultimately things we want and try for that are never really under our control in the first place. We learn to recalibrate, to move on, to try an alternative. These lessons for kids are necessary but painful, and they aren’t much easier for parents.

So this fall, I’m trying to hold on loosely to everything. We’re starting mornings slowly, lazing around in the autumn chill and eating breakfast in the backyard wearing pajamas. We’re putting many options on the table, choosing what the majority agrees upon and discussing what happens if it doesn’t work out. We’re saying thank you at the end of the day for whatever was offered, even it wasn’t the original menu item we chose.

I’m remembering that last minute, unscheduled trip to the arboretum, a day I was sure would fall apart after a 45 minute drive where everyone wanted to know why we were going to stare at flowers. Unexpected friends showed up and we played for hours until everyone fell into the car, drowsy and happy. I’m recalling the time I took my oldest daughter to turn in an overdue book at the library to find a science expo happening there. Without the built up expectations, everything was magic. We lingered for hours and bonded, just the two of us when she usually shares my attention with three other kids.

Basically, I’m remembering these non-planned days to help me reclaim this season from the madness it’s become in the past. I’m trying to focus on the people and not the places or things, because the perfect experience means nothing without the loved ones I want to share it with, and the most imperfect day is survivable as long as we all land home safely together.

While I will make loose plans and choose events I think my kids will enjoy, I will not place the burden of happiness on these events turning out perfectly. Contentment is not a destination. We’re already there. When I shuffle down the hall in the morning and find all of my kids, the kids I never planned on having, haloed by the sun streaking in through the front window, I know for sure that the best gifts in life usually end up being those normal, everyday experiences that could have never been orchestrated, even by the best planner in all the land.

]]>http://chocolateandchaos.com/almost-never-things-plan/feed/0Fernweh – Homesick For A Place You’ve Never Beenhttp://chocolateandchaos.com/fernweh-homesick-place-youve-never/
http://chocolateandchaos.com/fernweh-homesick-place-youve-never/#respondFri, 21 Oct 2016 11:30:48 +0000http://chocolateandchaos.com/?p=5382Fernweh. Wanderlust. Whatever you call it, all of a sudden I’m itching to get out of town. I love our house. And our neighborhood. And living so close to the city. And I love our life here, but… I kind of want to go somewhere else. I don’t know why. I don’t know where. Maybe […]]]>

Fernweh. Wanderlust. Whatever you call it, all of a sudden I’m itching to get out of town.

I love our house. And our neighborhood. And living so close to the city. And I love our life here, but…

I kind of want to go somewhere else. I don’t know why. I don’t know where.

Maybe it’s because my husband and I traveled to Italy this summer. We spent a week in Florence and Siena. We wandered around streets and neighborhoods we’d never seen before. We drove down highways and up dirt roads and through olive groves and vineyards, miles and miles away from home, work, responsibilities, and worries. It was exciting and romantic.

We’ve talked here and there about the possibility of traveling, maybe even temporarily living, abroad. I think our trip to Italy kind of kicked that desire into high gear, at least, for me. My husband has vacation time and even the possibility to work from home… wherever home may be. I’m currently staying at home with our son and writing. Our son is years away from being in school. We don’t really have anything tying us down.

We went from talking about traveling abroad as a family and doing a home swap (a la the movie “The Holiday” with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet) in the hypothetical sense to actually looking into it. I wasn’t sure how we’d even begin the process, but discovered a home exchange website. (There are actually several.) I sent it to my husband so that he could check it out.

We studied the site to learn how things work. Simply search for a destination and the amenities you’re looking for. (For us, we’ve been tweaking our searches to include a nursery or baby items!) Each family that lists their home takes pictures and writes a description of their house. Families can also create a profile so that you can learn a little bit about them and where they live. You can also list destinations you’d like to travel to and dates that you are free to go. If you find a family that you would like to exchange homes with, you send them a message on the site to see if they’d be interested in coming and staying at your house.

So we started examining our house. Three bedrooms, three bathrooms. Recently remodeled. Big backyard. Nice neighborhood close to Washington, DC. We realized we kind of have a lot to offer.

One afternoon, as our son went down for his afternoon nap, my husband and I ran around our house, straightening up and taking pictures of all of the rooms, our home’s exterior, and the backyard. We signed up for the site, built our profile, and uploaded our photos. Then we started looking at places to go.

I started looking around Florence and Italy. I loved Florence. I would love to go back. And then I started thinking… We can go ANYWHERE. So I started looking all over the place… Belgium. France. Canada. Portugal. Sweden.

As you come across homes that you like, you can save them to different lists. Our list of possible houses to check out quickly grew to over 50 houses. We both kept browsing and adding houses until finally, I realized we needed to pull the trigger. I went through our giant list and picked five homes, which I added to another list, one that was going to be specifically for homes that we were serious about contacting. I told my husband it was his turn to pick five houses, so that we’d create a top ten… and go from there.

I initially contacted ten homes in five different countries. We got a few abrupt declines. A couple declines with explanations. (People already had plans to travel this summer, or had just been to the United States this past summer and were looking to travel elsewhere for their next vacation.) A couple of our original inquiries are still out there, awaiting responses. Since we signed up for the site two weeks ago, we’ve probably reached out to 30 different families. We’ve also received our fair share of inquiries as well. We’re investigating the possibilities.

Now our problem is deciding when and where to go.

A family home in Galway, Ireland? A flat in the center of Copenhagen, Denmark? A cottage in the mountains to the north of France or a more modern home close to the sea in the south?

Every house we look at is a glimpse into some other family’s life. It makes me wonder what our life would be like there… even if it’s just for a few weeks. I am falling in love with cities like Brugge and Amsterdam and Barcelona and am falling in love with the idea of traveling to these places as a family. Adventure awaits! Who knows where we’ll end up? I’ll keep you posted!